American Beauty

A closer look at the story

American Beauty follows Lester Burnham, a gloomy suburban husband and father who believes that the people around him dislike and look down on him. After many years of marriage, his wife Carolyn behaves as if she can barely stand him, his daughter Jane treats him with contempt and his boss keeps undercutting him. In the depths of a mid-life crisis, Lester is thrown off course when he becomes infatuated with an attractive friend of his daughter's. Spurred on by desires he has kept buried for years, he resolves to change his life and starts taking small but bold steps. The more liberated and contented he feels, however, the more his new attitude infuriates his wife and daughter. Sam Mendes directed this 122-minute drama from 1999, written by Alan Ball. Kevin Spacey plays Lester, Annette Bening plays Carolyn and Thora Birch plays Jane, with Wes Bentley and Mena Suvari also in the cast. Its adult themes make it suited to mature viewers.